During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave.

On their 4th operation, target Berlin, 25 March 1944, aboard Halifax KW-C, all the crew members perished when their bomber crashed at the mouth of the Elbe River. Three crew members were buried in Germany. Laviolette’s body as well as the body of three others were never found.